Dublin is the mighty capital of Ireland. It holds around 550,000 inhabitants, and going through the city is great and a really different experience than other cities and nature in the country. It does not hold the most sights compared to other capitals, but the vibe is just fantastic! The number of pubs is ridiculous and absolutely fantastic. You cannot miss this city when visiting Ireland.

How to get here: Dublin is easily reach throughout the country and internationally. 

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 2 nights is perfect

Keep reading if you want to know more about the things to do in Dublin!

1. Visit the Trinity College

One of the absolute highlights is Trinity College, as it has many gorgeous buildings in the area. The college is still in use, so respect the inhabitants. There is a very gorgeous library, but you have to pay a lot, so I did not get in. At the college itself you can have a relaxed stroll, which is very nice. 

Price: Free, but the library cost at least € 35,- 

Tourist occurrence: High

How much time needed: 1 hour

2. Have a stroll around Dublin Castle

Dublin Castle is a nice castle to walk around. It may not be as impressive as other castles, but it is nice to walk around. The buildings are very pretty, and you can enjoy everything from the outside. We did not go in, but talking around is very nice. There is also a small garden to walk through.

Price: Free to walk around, but to enter it costs € 8,- 

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 30 minutes, if you do not enter 

3. Relax at Phoenix Park

Phoenix Park is located a bit further from the city centre, but it is huge! It may be the biggest city park I have ever been to. There is a zoo, huge grass fields, lakes, monuments, and much more. It is a perfect place to have a relaxed time and just hang out in the sun. You can also rent bikes to cover the park easier.

Price: Free, except extra things like bike rental and the zoo

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1-2 hours, but you can spend a whole day here.

4. Visit the Christ Church Cathedral

One of the most gorgeous churches of Dublin is the Christ Church Cathedral, which was built in the 11th century. The building is one of the highlights of Dublin. There is a cool bridge over the road as well, and do you dare to sit next to the statue on the bench? Do not miss this highlight. 

Price: € 12, but you can also just walk around outside for free

Tourist occurrence: Medium

How much time needed: 1-2 hours, but you can spend a whole day here.

5. Party in Temple Bar (or skip it)

Temple Bar is a cobblestone area named after the famous bar. The bar itself is very overpriced and not worth visiting in my opinion. The rest of Temple Bar is full of bars, restaurants, and clubs having live music. These are not the best and are full of tourists. I only liked the bars in the afternoon when there was already some live music, as the vibe is way more relaxed. Of course, it is worth visiting this famous area, but I would recommend going in the afternoon.

Price: Free, except the drinks are expensive here (especially in the Temple Bar itself)

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 1-2 hours, but you can spend a whole day here, depending on the amount of pubs you want to get in

6. Party in Camden Street

Instead of going to Temple Bar, I would recommend going to Camden Street, as it is a more local and authentic experience. The street is full of nice bars, places to eat, and electric clubs. Although it is just a street, the street is big and eventful, so it is absolutely worth going on the weekend. 

Price: Free, except the drinks 

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1 evening

7. Have a drink in Church Bar

Another cool place to discover during the nightlife is Church Bar. As the name says, it is a bar in an old church. There will be live music and maybe even some dancing. The bar is mostly for cocktails, but you can also get some pints. Upstairs there is a restaurant. The atmosphere is very nice and something you do not see often. 

Price: Free, except the drinks and food

Tourist occurrence: Very high

How much time needed: 1 hour

8. Walk next to the Liffey River

Throughout the famous river you can find the mighty Liffey River. There are sights on both sides of the river. You can easily walk past it and enjoy the different views of the river. While we were there we saw some rowing races, and there were some electric vibes, but later it was very quiet at the river. 

Price: Free

Tourist occurrence: Low

How much time needed: 1 hour

Things I have not done but could be cool

Because reservations are necessary at some places, we did not see every highlight, as we did not make reservations:

• Library of  Trinity College
• Guinness Storehouse Dublin (although we had a drink there)

Final thoughts

Dublin may not have the most highlights in the city, but the city has such a good vibe; it is outrageous. There is something to do on every corner of the city. The people, the pubs, and the houses make this city something you cannot miss during an itinerary in Ireland, but it is a big change from the countryside and nature.

If you want to know more about Ireland, check out the following: